Eva School Principal Sheila Burt surprised Superintendent Bob Balch and the Morgan County school board this week when she submitted her retirement papers — effective immediately.

Balch said the 6-year principal has a medical problem that required major surgery Monday, and then a long convalescent time. He said he thought she has at least 25 years in education.

"She's one of our most tenured elementary principals, and she did a good job. We'll certainly miss her," Balch said.

Balch said Brewer Assistant Principal Patrick Patterson will fill in as interim principal through the end of the year. At a called meeting Thursday, the school board approved putting Patterson on the school's check-signing list so he could pay the school's bills.

Balch said he would post the job vacancy as soon as possible. This is the first principal vacancy in Balch's administration. He said he hasn't decided whether to conduct the interview process himself or form a search committee.

Former Superintendent Don Murphy preferred conducting the search himself, although he did have a committee at Danville-Neel Elementary when he hired Jeremy Jones.